Objective:Autoimmune mechanisms, including cellular and humoral immune, are likely to participate in the pathogenesis of at least a subgroup of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy(IDC), in which cellular immune-mediated one plays a more important role. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4(CTLA-4) is the major negative regulatory factor of cellular immunity. This study was conducted to investigate the association of CTLA-4 gene promoter -318C/T polymorphism, exon 1 A/G polymorphism and 3′ untranslated region microsatellite polymorphism with susceptibility to IDC in Han Chinese.Methods:Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms(PCR-RFLP) techniques were used to analyze the polymorphisms of CTLA-4 promoter -318, exon 1 A/G and 3′ untranslated region in the unrelated Han ethnic population in Heilongjiang Province(including 72 IDC patients and 100 normal controls). Serum sCTLA-4 was tested by ELISA. The relationship of CTLA-4 genotype and alleles frequencies with sCTLA-4 was evaluated by linear regression analysis.Results:Compared with controls, the frequencies of GG genotype(0.604 2 and 0.739 6, P=0.012) and the G allele(0.360 0 and 0.560 0, P=0.008) were significantly increased in patients with IDC. Increased serum sCTLA-4 was found in the IDC group compared with the controls[(1.87?1.06)?g/L vs (0.54?0.19)?g/L, P

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on hypothalamic insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Sixty Wistar rats were randomized to a normal group (15 rats) and an observation group (45 rats). In the observation group, a rat model of T2DM was made by high-energy diet induction. After the model was successfully made 8 weeks later, the observation group was randomized to model making, treatment and blocker groups, 15 rats each. The treatment group received electroacupuncture and the blocker group, electroacupuncture plus intraventricular perfusion of phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxyl kinase (PI3K) blocker. After 8 weeks of treatment, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was measured using a glucometer, fasting insulin (Fins) was determined by ELISA, insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated and IRS-1 expression was examined by SABC immunohistochemistry assay in every group of rats. Results FPG and Fins increased significantly (both P<0.01) and IRI and IRS-1 expression decreased significantly (P<0.01) in the model making group compared with the normal group. FPG and Fins decreased significantly (both P<0.01) and IRI and IRS-1 expression increased significantly (P<0.01) in the treatment group compared with the model making group. FPG and Fins decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01) and IRI and IRS-1 expression increased significantly (P<0.01) in the treatment group compared with the blocker group. Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve FPG, Fins and insulin sensitivity by regulating hypothalamic IRS-1 expression in T2DM rats.

Color vision is a major component of vision function. Examination of color vision mostly relies on subjectivity at present. It is important to establish an objective method of color vision examination that would have particular clinical significance and forensic medicine value. With the development of new technology, the examination of visual electrophysiology has become a basic method of clinical diagnosis and investigation. Electroretinogram (ERG) could discriminate different cone cells and color abnormality. Visual evoked potential (VEP) generated characteristic negative wave after stimulation with different colors. Different visual electrophysiology detection methods were reviewed and in particular important new advancement of color vision research of ERG, F-VEP and P-VEP were introduced. The application prospect of color vision research in the clinical forensic medicine was also discussed. It is likely that color vision research study and visual electrophysiology will provide objective evaluation of retina and brain function.
Color Vision/physiology* ; Electrophysiology ; Electroretinography ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and complications of augmentation phalloplasty by implanting autogenous tunica vaginalis grafts into the bilateral albuginea of the penile corpus.

METHODSFive mongrel dogs underwent augmentation phalloplasty with bilateral autogenous tunica vaginalis grafts. The increase in the volume of the corpora cavernosa was achieved by applying autogenous tunica vaginalis grafts to longitudinal openings made bilaterally in the albuginea along the whole length of the penile cavernous corpora. The perimeter of the penile cavernous corpora was measured in the flaccid state and during erection and dynamic infusion cavernosometry (DIC) was conducted for each dog before and after the operation. Histology of the penis was examined using hematoxylin and eosin stains.

RESULTSThe average increase in the perimeter of the penile cavernous corpora was 21. 1% in the erectile state but unobvious in the flaccid state 3 months after surgery. There were no statistically significant differences in cavernosometric parameters before and after the operation, and neither were there any other severe postoperative complications. The grafts had mild inflammatory reaction and fibrosis with apparent reformation of the tunica albuginea over the patch site.

CONCLUSIONThe augmentation phalloplasty technique with bilateral autogenous tunica vaginalis grafts was proved to be effective and reliable with few complications, particularly conspicuous in increasing the volume of the erectile tissues during erection.

Animals ; Dogs ; Male ; Penile Diseases ; surgery ; Penile Implantation ; Penis ; surgery ; Testis ; transplantation

Objective To observed the clinical effect of long-term sacral nerve stimulation on anal rectal pain after lumbar surgery.Methods A total of 18 cases with functional anorectal pain (FARP) after lumbar surgery in our hospital from April 2015 to March 2018were selected, of whom 3 cases refuse to accept the treatment, the other 15 cases received sacral nerve electrical stimulation.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and simplified MPQ pain questionnaire were used to evaluate the clinical effect in preoperative and postoperative1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year respectively.Results Fifteen cases of permanent sacral nerve stimulation before and after , The MPQ scale and PSQI of 15 patients with implantation of permanent sacral nerve stimulation in postoperative 1 week were better than those before implantation , the differences were significant( P＜ 0. 05) . In the MPQ scale , the PPI and PRI at 6 months after operation was better than those before implantation , the difference was statistically significant ( P ＜ O. 01 ) ; PSQI and V AS score after 2 months were better than those before implantation , the difference were statistically significant( P ＜ 0.01) , meanwhile in 1-year of follow-up , the PSQI and VAS score continued to decline , but the change was not obvious. Conclusion Long-term sacral nerve electrical stimulation in the treatment of lumbar anorectal pain has a good clinical effect , which can improve patients ' quality of life.

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome